The Library caters for variation in demand and type of use of library materials by a number of methods:
- Initial mode of acquisition/access (e.g. printed or electronic, shared purchase with remote access, Inter Library Loan).
- Library locations at sites appropriate to users’ needs: the University Library and Taylor Law Library in Old Aberdeen, Medical Library at Foresterhill, Reid Library at the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health.
- Alternative locations for material: Heavy Demand, closed access and remote stores, Special Collections Centre.
- A range of loan periods: Long Loan (sessional loan), 4-week loan, 3-day loan, Heavy Demand (overnight until 10.30 a.m.), 24-hour loan, Reference, Supervised Consultation.
The Library will allocate material to and move it between these locations and categories according to demand and access needs, sensitivity / content, intrinsic value, and security and conservation requirements.
3.1 Locations and Availability of Material
The majority of the library’s stock is located on open access in the University Library and Taylor Law Library in Old Aberdeen, and at the Medical Library at Foresterhill.
3.1.1 Heavy Demand
- Heavy demand is an over-night only loan service, created to ensure swift and fair access to limited resources
- Academic staff must specify which titles they wish to make available through Heavy Demand
Multiple copy orders will be allocated to 3-Day Loan, with one copy on Standard Loan, unless otherwise indicated on the book order information or specific School-wide instructions are received.
3.1.2 Remote Closed Access Stores
These facilities accommodate material with low use levels in one or more of the following categories and has usually been placed there following consultation with the academic community:
- material matching a particular cut-off date
- material that currently has low potential for teaching/research
- is not available for browsing
- has restricted use conditions
- does not need preservation in a special environment
3.1.4 Remote / Co-operative Access
For printed or non-networked electronic material in one or more of the following categories:
- is owned by a consortium and housed at one of the member sites
- belongs to one institution that grants special rights to members of another
3.1.5 Inter Library Loan
Material not suitable or available for purchase.
3.2 Movements of stock between locations and categories
The Library will assign stock to, and move it between, appropriate locations and categories of availability. It will also work according to agreed mechanisms whereby lesser-used works – e.g. those with little scholarly or intrinsic value – can be withdrawn, and works no longer relevant to this University but of use to others can be suitably relocated through transfer or sale.
Stock in the general library will be accommodated and moved between locations and categories according to the criteria specified below. Subject/School-specific collecting policies will override these guidelines where agreed with the Librarian. Material moved to closed-access areas will be fully catalogued to ensure it is properly accessible on the OPAC.
|
STOCK TYPE |
ACTION |
|---|---|
|
Currently-purchased paper-based subscription serials or series |
OPEN SHELF |
|
Works not borrowed for a period of time (depending on subject area) but which are in areas of teaching/research interest |
STORE |
|
Duplicate copies of works that are no longer recommended course reading |
DISPOSAL |
|
Superseded works/outdated editions of works of scholarly/intrinsic value |
STORE (1 copy) |
|
Superseded works/outdated editions of works without scholarly/intrinsic value |
DISPOSAL |
|
Damaged works of scholarly interest/value that cannot be replaced or repaired |
SCC or STORE |
|
Low-use works in repairable condition but not of sufficient value to repair |
STORE |
|
Works permanently replaced by alternative media |
DISPOSAL TO BE CONSIDERED |
|
Out-of-date material of an ephemeral nature |
SCC OR DISPOSAL |
|
Periodicals without current subscriptions, not consulted for a period of time (minimum 5 years), and no longer of teaching/research interest. Applies particularly to incomplete or short runs titles |
DISPOSAL OR STORE |
|
Duplicate periodical issues, once the periodical has been bound or no longer ‘at risk’ |
DISPOSAL |
3.3 Stock control
General library materials are marked with appropriate security tagging devices and buildings provided with equipment to read such tags, so as to ensure the safe retention of the physical item. Library buildings will be maintained, by the University’s Estates department, so that the internal environment does not conflict with the preservation of the library stock. See Appendix 4
3.4 Stock checks
General library stock will be inspected on a regular basis, not less than once in five years, to ensure its security, cleanliness and condition. Damaged materials will be repaired if the conditions at paragraph 4.3.1 are met.
3.5 Returned items
Items returned from loan or consultation will be re-shelved within a maximum of 48 hours from return.
